Alternanthera plant named ‘Mai Tai’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alternanthera  plant named ‘Mai Tai’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit; strong and healthy leaves; variegated leaves that are dark burgundy/brown, red purple, green and creamy white in color; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Alternanthera ficoidea.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Mai Tai’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Alternanthera, botanically known as Alternanthera ficoidea and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Mai Tai’.

The new Alternanthera is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of Alternanthera ficoidea ‘Partytime’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,789. The new Alternanthera was discovered and selected by the Inventor from within a population of plants of the parent selection in a controlled greenhouse environment in Alpharetta, Ga. in June, 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Alternanthera by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Alpharetta, Ga. since June, 2006, has shown that the unique features of this new Alternanthera are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Alternanthera have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Mai Tai’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Mai Tai’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Alternanthera:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit.     -   3. Strong and healthy leaves.     -   4. Variegated leaves that are dark burgundy/brown, red purple,         green and creamy white in color.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Alternanthera differ primarily from plants of the parent, ‘Partytime’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alternanthera have slightly larger leaves         than plants of ‘Partytime’.     -   2. Plants of the new Alternanthera and ‘Partytime’ differ in         leaf color as plants of ‘Partytime’ had green, creamy white and         red purple-colored leaves.

Plants of the new Alternanthera can be compared to plants of Alternanthera ficoidea ‘Grenadine’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,442. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alpharetta, Ga., plants of the new Alternanthera differed from plants of ‘Grenadine’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alternanthera were more vigorous and taller         than plants of ‘Grenadine’.     -   2. Plants of the new Alternanthera had thicker stems than plants         of ‘Grenadine’.     -   3. Plants of the new Alternanthera had larger leaves than plants         of ‘Grenadine’.     -   4. Plants of the new Alternanthera and ‘Grenadine’ differed in         leaf color as plants of ‘Grenadine’ had brown and red purple         bi-colored leaves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Alternanthera, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Alternanthera. The photograph comprises a top perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Mai Tai’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring and summer in an outdoor nursery in north central Texas. Plants had been growing for a year in the outdoor nursery when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alternanthera ficoidea ‘Mai Tai’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of Alternanthera     ficoidea ‘Partytime’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,789. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About one week at 24° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at 18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four             weeks at 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five             weeks at 18° C.         -   Root description.—Thin, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading             plant habit; herbaceous subshrub. Short internodes; densely             foliated. Moderately vigorous growth rate.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching habit with lateral             branches potentially forming at every internode.         -   Plant height.—About 26 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 45 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 42 cm. Diameter:             About 5 mm. Internode length: About 3.2 cm. Strength:             Strong; flexible. Texture, younger stems: Smooth, glabrous.             Texture, mature stems: Pubescent. Color, developing stems:             Close to 146A flushed with close to 59A. Color, older stems:             Close to 58A.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Opposite; simple; strong and             healthy leaves. Length: About 4.5 cm. Width: About 3.3 cm.             Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Cordate with truncate             tendencies. Margin: Entire; undulate. Texture, upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous; rugose. Texture, lower surface:             Pubescent; rugose. Venation: Pinnate. Color: Developing and             fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Random sectors of             close to 8D, close to 144A, between 58A and 61A or close to             200A to 200B; midvein, close to 59A; lateral venation,             similar to lamina. Developing and fully expanded leaves,             lower surface: Random sectors of close to 8D, close to 144A,             between 58A and 61A (dulled) and close to 200B flushed with             close to 59A; midvein, close to 58A; lateral venation,             similar to lamina. Petiole: Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter:             About 1.5 mm. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous.             Texture, lower surface: Pubescent. Color, upper surface:             Close to 59A. Color, lower surface: Close to 58A. -   Flower description: Flower development as not been observed on     plants of the new Alternanthera. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Alternanthera have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Alternanthera. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Alternanthera have been     observed to have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about 4° C. to about 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct Alternanthera plant named ‘Mai Tai’ as illustrated and described. 